PMO Calls Iran-Negotiator Report Fake News
Published
The Prime Minister's Office denied a report that the Trump administration feared Israel planned to assassinate Iranian negotiators Abbas Araghchi and Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf during spring talks. The PMO called the report "fake news" and a complete fabrication. Earlier accounts said current and former U.S. officials believed Washington asked regional states to warn Tehran because such killings could collapse talks. Israel should not let anonymous reports narrow its freedom to stop Iran, while keeping any useful channel tied to verifiable nuclear and proxy limits.
Sources
Difference in reporting
Sources factually disagree on whether the NYT-derived allegation reflects real Israeli planning. Ynet's denial item and the Times of Israel liveblog report that the Prime Minister's Office called the story fake news and a complete fabrication. The Times of Israel and Ynet background reports plus New York Post report that current and former U.S. officials believed Israel might target Abbas Araghchi and Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, asked regional countries to warn Tehran, and feared such killings could collapse U.S.-Iran talks. Sources agree on the named Iranian officials, the spring talks context, the July 3 PMO denial, and the claim's origin in the New York Times report.
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